As Senate Democrats unveiled an “assault weapons ban” encompassing a variety of rifles, shotguns, and pistols, the newest lawyer in the U.S. Senate pointed out that “real assault weapons” have been illegal since 1934. “Washington politicians shouldn’t be taking advantage of recent tragedy to try to push an aggressive gun control agenda,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in a statement today. “Real assault weapons—machine guns—are already functionally illegal, and they have been since 1934. This proposal would have done nothing to prevent the terrible murders in Newtown, but it would limit the constitutional liberties of law-abiding citizens.” Through the National...

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) – Sexy pictures, taken for private purposes, are finding their way online. The website, described as a revenge porn site, is posting explicit photos submitted by men seeking revenge on their ex-girlfriends. But a group of Texas women may get the last laugh, after filing a lawsuit against the site. Hollie Toups, 32, says she “stopped breathing for awhile” when she found semi-nude pictures of herself on the site. Toups went from being a modest teacher’s aide in Beaumont to an unintended porn star, after an ex-boyfriend posted explicit photos along with personal information. “I...

More than half the Senate on Wednesday urged quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, ramping up pressure on President Barack Obama to move ahead with the project just days after he promised in his inaugural address to respond vigorously to the threat of climate change. A letter signed by 53 senators said Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman’s approval of a revised route through his state puts the long-delayed project squarely in the president's hands. “We urge you to choose jobs, economic development and American energy security,” the letter said, adding that the pipeline “has gone through the most exhaustive...

SAN ANTONIO - A scary situation for a family on the Northeast Side. Just before 10 am Sunday morning Bexar County Sheriff's Deputies say someone tried to kick-in the front door at a home on Sunlit Trail. We're told the mom called 911 and the son fired one shot through the door. The suspect then took off after firing his gun.

<p>Gov. Rick Perry’s spokesman Josh Havens said, “(Perry’s) thoughts and prayers are with those that have been impacted,” Havens said. “We have nothing more to add at this point, but the governor will continue to closely monitor the situation.”</p>
<p>My prayers are w/ those who were injured in today’s shooting, the entire Lone Star College community, & our first responders on the scene.</p>

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a good news update on a home ransacked and spray painted by a pair of teen burglars in northwest Houston. While the burglars are now in custody, community members and Marines stepped in to help the homeowner -- a 93-year-old World War II veteran. The Marines quickly marched into the defaced home of WWII veteran Elbert Wood, eager to help. "It's important that he knows we're here for him and that we're always his brothers," Major Roberto Rodriguez said. The presence of these local Marines is just one example of the outpouring of support for Wood...

Dozens of people lined up outside a South Austin gun shop Monday. They fear this new presidential term will mean tougher gun laws. Monday morning dozens of people lined up outside Central Texas Gun Works in South Austin. Some waited as long as five hours to get the chance to purchase a part to make an AR-15. "Lower receivers seem to be sold out throughout the nation so as soon as you find out one's in stock like the line shows, everybody rushes for them," gun owner Jeremy Paul said.

AUSTIN -- Forty years ago the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the case of Roe vs. Wade. The ruling confirmed that the right to privacy includes making your own personal medical decisions, including abortion. However the fight over abortion rights continues. One of the biggest is playing out among state lawmakers. Polls show most Americans still support the Supreme Court's ruling. According to a 2012 Gallup Poll, 77 percent think abortion should be legal in some or all circumstances. The battle at the Texas Capitol centers on just how far abortion rights should go. Several bills have...

Tired of the scourge of organized crime, civilians in two rural towns in southwestern Mexico have taken matters into their own hands over the last two weeks. Since the second week of January, around 800 masked and armed residents have set up vigilante groups who are manning checkpoints, imposing curfews and arresting alleged criminals. This unofficial police force says they are providing security for the municipalities of Ayutla de los Libres and Teconoapa in Guerrero state, an area that has been hit hard by Mexico's drug violence. More than 70,000 people killed across the country since 2006 and residents in...

The Black Heritage Society is sponsoring the 35th annual "Original" MLK Parade beginning at 10 a.m. on the corner of Texas and Jackson in downtown. Glorice McPherson, event coordinator for the Black Heritage Society, said the festivities will include an awards gala, a health fair, and a groundbreaking for a statue of MLK Jr. Charles Stamps, chairman and CEO for the MLK Parade Foundation, said the parade will have two battle of the bands contests this year instead of just one, as well as the youth parade.

This report lays out the case for elimination of the franchise tax. Part II of this report (which is forthcoming) advocates for a transition Be Bold Texas! Franchise Tax Report Be Bold Texas! Franchise Tax Report (PDF) away from property taxes to consumption taxes to fund the maintenance and operations of public schools. That report will also make the case for a lower property tax appraisal cap or property tax revenue cap to provide homeowners and business owners with relief from inexorable appraisal growth. Taken together, these reforms would represent a substantial transformation of the state’s tax structure, and thus,...

DALLAS (Reuters) - A pickup truck used by former President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch was sold for $300,000 at an auction on Saturday after he donated it to benefit a charity that serves U.S. military families.

Gun shop owner to auction off Bushmaster rifle for charity A local gun shop owner is auctioning off one of his guns to help out one of his employees in need. "Buy a gun, annoy a liberal." That's a T-shirt you can buy at Central Texas Gun Works in Austin. The owner, Michael Cargill is pro-gun but what he is not...is a conservative. "Hey, I'm a Democrat and I support the second amendment. If someone wants to come in here and buy a gun, annoy a liberal, that's fine. They can do that!" Cargill said. That's what makes the following...

The Seaway Crude Oil Pipeline Co. has taken the biggest step so far toward reducing transportation bottlenecks between the U.S. Midwest and the Gulf Coast, setting the stage for significant changes by mid-2014 that will bring relief to Bakken producers. The 50-50 joint venture by affiliates of Enbridge and Enterprise Products Partners has completed a reversal of 500 miles of the Seaway system, increasing the flow between Cushing, Okla., and Houston to 400,000 barrels per day from 150,000 bpd. The partnership is now targeting 850,000 bpd by the first quarter of 2014 when it introduces a new twin line parallel...

<p>MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — The U.S. Border Patrol says two Central American women have reported being raped by human smugglers in two separate incidents in South Texas.</p>
<p>A Border Patrol statement Friday says a Honduran woman apprehended Tuesday in the brush by agents from the Kingsville station said she was raped Jan. 6 by three men at a stash house near Hidalgo. She was taken to a Kingsville hospital for evaluation.</p>

In the days leading up to the 40th commemoration of Roe v. Wade, the pro-life cause is winning the legal war against America’s largest abortion provider. As reported recently in the Texas Tribune, the State of Texas has won round one in the battle to defund abortion providers. In 2011, the Texas legislature passed what is called the “Affiliate Ban Rule,” which prohibits any health provider affiliated with abortion, including Planned Parenthood, from participating in the state’s Women’s Health Program. In April 2012, a Texas judge granted a preliminary injunction to Planned Parenthood TX, exempting them from the new rule;...

President Obama's plan, announced Wednesday, to curtail gun violence in the wake of recent mass shootings is drawing both criticism and praise in the gun-loving state of Texas. The president is calling for Congress to implement background checks for all gun purchases and to ban certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Republican Gov. Rick Perry said the president's plan "disgusts" him and that it is an effort by the political left to use the killings to accomplish an anti-gun agenda. He called for prayer and a rejection of evil, as opposed to gun regulation. But Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said...